Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1887-08-03
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made use OF ia consectiou
with the report Of the board Of directors,
deem Il but just to myself - we'll % ell
that Il. should make . public
statement Of the facts In the case, but before
proceeding further want to return my sin.
cere thanks TO the Examiner, 1NrELLiaEN. |
GER aud NeW Era for very many favors
shown mo during the comparatively short |
time that have been engaged In mission.
ary work." ~ my efforts have been termed,
for under God sccredit those papers with
being my greatest helpers.
But 10 the question ct issue, Mr.. Swank,
the chaplain ct the hospital, having made
certain charges against me TO the effect that /
he has been able to see nothing In my six |
years Of hospital visitation, but an attempt to |
oust him and trump up charges against the
management goes to show how double
10 Mr.. Swank has always profsssed the |
greatest friendship for me, and l have ever
bcfr tended him In all possible wayA
Ny hrst acquaintance with that gentleman
dates back TO about the tune Of little trans
action that occurred January 18th, lss2,
namely, Q donation surprise visit gotten up
by myself for the benefit Of Mr.. Swank aud
family from that date on our relations were
Of the most friending nature - the follow.
ing note will serve to show:
LANCASTER, PA, June 8, 1852.
BROTHER LEoNARD: Will you please be
20 kind ss to take my place at the poorhouse,
limb, tits 10 sore l want you to Iced the
Yours In Christ,
JOHN W. SwANK.
Scarcely a Sunday passed thereafter that
Mr.. Swank did not request me to take part
tho ala mob
occasions a. immersions and the burial Of the
| dead I; also during bad weather. have
frequently held the services for him,
and during the heated term l have
filled his place during his ab.
sence in the country. During the long
winter evenings OF lssl IS the inmates Of the
almsbouse expressing . desire for evening
services l asked Mr.. Swank's permission TO
hold such services either in the chapel or
corridor, but my request was refused, Mr..
Swank himself conducting . meeting for .
/ short time when, owing to disability, he dis
continued the same l offered TO continue
the meetings, but he would not agree to this
because, a. 1 was informed, he feared that
sought by this means to displsce him con.
sequently no more meetings were held with
the exception Of an occasional hymn and
| prayer by myself and inmates In the smoking
room or corridor, and this was never done to
my knowledge 30 ~ to interfere with Mr..
Swsnk in the discharge OF his dusiea
Again under date Of August q, 1885, Mr..
Swsnk, wishing to use me in spite Of his un-
| charitable opinion of my motives, addressed
the following note to me:
Mr.. A. c. Leonard.
DEAR BRoTHER.-Will you please 60 TO
the chapel and prison and take charge OF
the services, as / sm not able to get out there,
a. / am very poorly with my foot have
such very sore mouth that cannot talk at
/ all. Yours truly,
Brother in the Lord,
JOHN w. SwANK.
During the reign OF the smallpox ct the
hospital and In the city, Mr.. Swank was
stricken down with what was generally
supposed to be that dread disease, and
visited him snd sat by his bedside offer.
ing to do anything In my power for
him, Notwithstanding the fact that his
/ own church pastor declined catering the
house further than the front door. During
the winter OF 1886 numbers of the almshouse
, inmates again asked me to hold evenin &
meatings, and l addressed . note to the
board Of directors, asking theiripermission 4
do 70, which request they very politely
answered by referring me TO Chaplain
Swank, who mos. empasticslly refu sed u y
request, since which time I have contsntsd
II "y s0h Uy OOiuB WuAb BUou CDulu - Up
portunity presented itself, and l have thus
lsbored 10 the old pest-house when BY
reason OF contagious and offensive diseases
scarcely another man ventured near the
/ plsce-sll of which have ever done and an
still willing to do very readily with no other
/ hope OF reward than the feeble /" Thank you
come again, please" Of the dying inmates.
/ Instead, then, OF selfish motives on my part
| or aspiring to displsce MIR. Swank as he On.
deavors to make appear, have at all times
aided him by all the means in my power,
and the only incident that might be con
strued into willingness on my part to dis
place him was few words that passed be-
tween myself and an attachee Of the Neu
Era, just after Mr.. wank was last elected to
his position in January of this year. Meet
ing said gentleman In Centre Square b,
called out to me, "why, l thought that yor
would have been Q candidate for Swank'
place this year." to which answered, "no
am not q candidate. l sm NO preacher y
When he replied "Thst don't matter, yo'
are just the man for the place and / want y
Gee about that next year" I answered that II
| 81 was named and elected l would serve.
have repeatedly been urged to becom
| an applicant, but have a. often refused the us,
OF my name 10 long ~ Mr.. Swank desireC
the place which would only have acceptel
in any event ss q matter OF duty to those VIII
need such service ss l could render then
and not for the sake OF the small salary o
800.
Chaplain Swank says that he never saw
anything to complain of at the hospital. Well
let me tell you, in as few words - possible
some things thai have seen and heard. .
have heard dying men beg tor water
sick plesding for food and nourisbmsnt
have seen the helpless lying In theil
own filth, both in bed and upon tn
floor, and heard them say that "no ont
/ comes to sse whether l sm alive or dead"
. have seen men covered from head TO foo
/ with woOlen blankets in July In order to kee
the swarms OF tiies from Fostering them.
, have seen men wrangling over their cards o.
the Sabbath day, while those about then
were dying; and have seen the bodies 9
dead shsmsully treated. l have plead 70
better treatment for those people time an
| | again, and now trust that the day Of betts
things for those poor unfortunatss hs
dawned. And now with the con
> sciousnsss Of having done only my Chril
0 tian duty in this whole matter, dismiss th
. subject from further consideration "wit
|. malice towards none and charity for oil
by producing the following testimony
II hv loiu 2sus A, "a a